Opinion
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
I have watched this project come and go in different forms over the last 20 years or so. We need to realize that any proposal for a large development which makes significant changes must go through a process which reminds me of the digestive system of a cow.
The latest iteration began with an extremely flawed proposal and the worst environmental impact report (EIR) I have ever read.
The city staff began the process, and after several years and many meetings and public workshops the project was changed significantly. The old EIR was thrown out, and a much more thorough EIR prepared. The proposal to use Dam Road as the main access road was abandoned and replaced with the requirement to construct a new road named Provinsalia Avenue.
The original EIR proposed financing the roads in a way which could have made the city responsible. This was taken out, and now the city is requiring the roads to be built using private funds and maintained by the parcels within the development through a maintenance district. Many other beneficial changes have been made.
In other words, by going through the process, the city folks have worked to address the issues raised by various people and agencies and have modified the project requirements accordingly. This is the way the process is supposed to work.
Property owners have the right to propose projects. The city has the responsibility to place requirements and conditions on projects to mitigate their impacts on the community. Sometimes the conditions are so expensive that the project just isn’t economically possible.
In my opinion, this project is not economically viable and will not happen in its present form. If I were the developer, I would revise it and make it an upscale community for retired people. This would eliminate the impact on schools and commuter traffic and not compete with existing parcels for family residential use.
Now, some people have criticized the City Council regarding this project and in particular for the way the final public hearing on this project was conducted, claiming that public comment was restricted in violation of the Brown Act. I was not at this hearing, but did attend the previous one where I spoke in opposition to the project, concluding that although the city has done a good job, it could be better.
I know each one of the council members, and can vouch for their sincerity and good intentions. I know the staff, and have complimented them publicly for the good job they have done in adding many new conditions and requirements to this project. I also know many of the opponents to the project, and they are also good people with good intentions.
What I think we need here is more respect, on all sides of this issue.
If the council wants to alleviate the complaint that they restricted public comment, they can step back and hold another public hearing. They don’t have to start the process all over again. Individual council members may feel that they have heard enough, and ruminated enough, but sometimes you just need to let concerned citizens have their say. It’s all about the process. Sometimes the cow swallows its cud, sometimes it regurgitates and chews it some more.
Those who have complained should show some respect for the City Council and their staff, who have a difficult job. If you think there was a flaw in the process, then complain about the process and don’t attack council members personally.
The quickest way to lose respect is to disrespect someone else, and the best way to earn respect is to show some respect yourself.
Ed Robey is a former Clearlake City Council member and the recently retired District 1 supervisor. He lives in Lower Lake.
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- Written by: Yvonne Cox
It greatly saddened me to see most of the people being honored at this Sunday's Stars of Lake County were just doing their jobs and then there are people like myself that does not get paid and pays for everything out of my own pocket.
For three years now I have been running my soup kitchen, feeding over 30,000 people, supplying grocery bags for those in need and a youth center.
I just wonder how many other people that really are making a difference in our community are being overlooked.
I think it is a wonderful thing to honor people, but I feel it to be a great hypocrisy to charge people $50 to attend a function were they are supposed to be awarded not charged.
I personally don’t need to be glorified for doing what I should be doing. Every Tuesday I am honored with smiles and hugs.
Shame, shame!
Yvonne Cox, “The Snake Lady,” lives in Lucerne.
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- Written by: David W. Smith
I hope that Lisa “knows” that this person, who was “pulling on the slot machine,” is definitely a “caregiver.” This person may have been a family member, who is taking her/his son out for a change in pace, from the drudgery of staying at home, and the casino may be a way of stimulating her son's emotions. Granted, with all the smoke that fills the casino, it is bad for anyone's health, but as Lisa put it, “there is little to do,” so as a means of entertainment, this may have been this person's way of entertaining both her/his and her/his son.
As for “responsibility,” Lisa needs to be aware that, “as a caregiver,” she “IS” a mandated reporter of any type of abuse, and she should report abuses to the County Adult Protective Services or Child Protective Services. The responsibility starts with the reporting to the county and proceeds, as necessary from there.
Before she makes this type of call, she should make sure that she is fully informed of the situation, because she can also set herself up for a lawsuit. What she witnessed may have been just what I previously mentioned, “a simple entertainment outing.” Another thought, to this situation could have been something that the “client” asked for. I know of clients that want this type of outing, so it's a mutual thing between client and provider.
The bottom line for “responsibility” is in the hands of the caregivers and the county. If Lisa truly cares about the disabled, then she should get more involved. There is a regularly scheduled meeting of a group of individuals for the purpose of advising this county of what things need to be addressed, for the caregivers and the elderly and disabled. This group is called the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Advisory Committee, and Lisa can call the IHSS office in Lower Lake and ask when these meetings are scheduled so that she can attend and participate in making things better in this county.
Another regularly scheduled meeting is for the IHSS providers and their clients, family members, friends and anybody who supports them. This meeting is held at the Mendo-Lake Credit Union, every third Monday of every month, at 6 p.m.
Here's a scenario that I have been trying to get the great people in this county to understand: If the IHSS providers with their union (and the union's resources), coupled with the clients and the county (and the county's resources), all came together with ideas and the willingness to work together, those four groups could come up with ways to make this program the best that it can be. IHSS is the only program, in the nation, of its type. Other states are looking at how California makes this program work, and, depending on how we ALL can work together, we can show the nation, that we can be true leaders.
David W. Smith lives in Nice.
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- Written by: Maryerlene Huffman
I also would like to note that automakers too are contributing to safe teenage driving through the development of new technology such as the “MyKey” by Ford which allows parents to set the car’s speed and set a maximum volume on the audio system.
As a parent, I appreciate Ford’s investment in such technology allowing me to feel a little more comfortable the next time I hand over the keys.
Maryerlene Huffman lives in Kelseyville.
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